Chapter 37
Flora
“Ifeel like I should be apologizing to you,” I whispered as Bear led me into the shower. After turning on the water, he held me out of its reach for a moment, checking that it was warm enough before letting me step under the spray.
“What on earth do you have to apologize for?” he asked.
I pointed at the bite mark on his neck. “I instigated the bond. I essentially trapped you.”
Warm hands wrapped around my waist, and I was backed up against the cool tile of the shower as Bear encroached into my personal space.
“You didn’t trap me into anything,” he said, his voice firm and resolute. “Do you feel trapped?”
“Not at all. I wanted to—I just probably should have asked you first.”
He shrugged. “No need. I am so fucking happy you chose me, Flora. I never thought…” He trailed off.
“You really thought no one would ever want you because of your face?” I asked.
He hesitated for a moment, not wanting to verbalize what he thought about himself. “Honestly, yes,” he finally admitted.
“Well, you’re wrong, because you’re all mine now.” I grinned, wrapping an arm around his waist and hugging him tightly, beaming up at him. “Mine,” I growled playfully. I could freak out over the bond later, but for now, I was too exhausted and knot-happy.
He sighed contentedly. “I will never stop being grateful for how much you’ve accepted me.
Not many have, Flora. It’s been you and my pack.
And now, well, we’re going to have to rearrange things because you’re a part of my pack now, regardless of whether or not you bite the others. I’m not letting you go anytime soon.”
My hand trailed down to cup his rather impressive ass. “You’re stuck with me.” I smiled happily.
“None of that here,” he admonished playfully. “I’m supposed to be taking care of you.”
“There’s more than one way to take care of me,” I said, suggestively rubbing myself against him. Every hard plane of his body made me come alive. His rapidly hardening cock pressing on my stomach ignited a hunger in me that I honestly hadn’t thought I’d feel after my first heat.
You would think that, after taking dick after dick for so many days, I’d be completely done with the idea of sex—but nope. One hungry look from Bear and I was raring to go.
With a groan, he threw his head back.
“Little omega, no matter how much I want to, I’m going to be responsible and say no. You need to get clean, you need to eat, and then we can do you again,” he said, his voice thick with need.
He grabbed the bottle of shampoo and started lathering up my hair while I pouted like a child.
“Spencer’s cooking, so we’d better hurry up,” he said.
My nose scrunched almost involuntarily at that idea. “He’s just going to try and feed me something healthy. I don’t want healthy,” I whined.
“Maybe he’ll surprise you,” Bear hummed.
The urge to cross my arms and stomp my feet was almost overpowering. “Can’t we just order takeout?” I asked hopefully.
“You can ask him…”
I groaned, glowering playfully at Bear. We both knew Spencer, the health freak, would be totally against takeout during a heat.
Once done, we stepped out of the shower together. Bear took his time drying me with so much care and consideration, it made my eyes tear up. I wasn't used to being treated like I was something precious and fragile. I was exhausted, and having him there to help me was lovely.
Bear threaded my arms through one of his giant T-shirts before guiding me out of the bathroom.
“I'm going to grab a hair dryer.”
His voice was soft, and I wanted to bury myself in it. It still hadn't sunk in. That Bear was mine. By answering that primal instinct to bite him, I had bonded us together for life, and I wasn't mad in the slightest.
He was a silent, sweet protector. Kind and thoughtful.
Even though I didn't say out loud, I was pretty sure I’d won the jackpot.
He slid his hands under my knees and picked me up with ease. I’d assumed he was carrying me into the living room to find food, but instead, he placed me gently on the clear bathroom counter.
“Let me dry your hair,” he said, pulling a hair dryer I had never seen before out of the drawer.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
His smile was so wide, it made his entire face glow and the scar under his eye crinkle. “You never have to thank me for taking care of you. It's my pleasure.”
I sighed wistfully. “You know, a girl could get used to this.”
“Maybe that's what I want,” he hummed before turning on the dryer and carefully drying my hair. Even when he combed it through, he was so gentle, I didn't feel a single tug. It was the ultimate pampering, and I was a puddle of blissed-out joy.
Closing my eyes, I let him work, enjoying the attention and having him nearby. The bond was still settling, and I could feel it in my chest. Bear was there. I knew that for the rest of my days, I would feel him in my soul—it was terrifying, exhilarating, and comforting, all at once.
“Food time,” Bear declared as he turned off the dryer.
I grinned sleepily at him. Between the pampering and knotting, I was so sleepy. But I hadn’t eaten enough during my heat, despite Spencer’s many attempts.
“Feed me,” I demanded sleepily, holding my arms out to him.
Bear scooped me up gleefully, burying his face in my hair as he carried me through to the kitchen, depositing me on one of the stools at the island.
Spencer and Chase were both hard at work in the kitchen; Spencer, standing over a frying pan, and Chase, washing dishes in the sink.
“You know we own a dishwasher?” Bear said.
Chase shrugged. “I need these now—Spencer bought fancy ice cream for dessert.”
“Ice cream?” I asked, my head shooting up immediately in excitement.
Spencer nodded. His hair was pushed back, his sleeves rolled up as he worked. “If you eat all the sensible food, there’s caramel pecan ice cream.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “This feels like a trap. What is this sensible food you claim to be making?”
All my alphas broke into laughter at my accusing tone.
Shaking his head, Spencer spoke. “It's nothing too bad, princess. It's chicken breast, sweet potato, and green beans. And no, you can't get out of eating the vegetables.”
Considering for a moment, I chewed my lip. “Fine!” I huffed. “I accept. Only because of this caramel pecan ice cream.”
Spencer's approving look shouldn’t have made me feel as mushy and happy as it did. “Good, because it’s not like you had a choice.”
“I have a choice! I could say no!” I insisted.
Spencer laughed, leaving his pan to walk over to me, looking me dead in the eye as he spoke. “No, you don’t, princess. Because as soon as you bit Bear, you became a member of my pack, and I take care of my pack, whether they like it or not.”
I sat there, stunned at his declaration, at the forcefulness of his words, when he turned back and continued cooking as if nothing had happened.
“You’re stuck with us now, honeybee,” Chase said, passing me on the way to put one of the dishes back and kissing me on the cheek. His ginger scent wafted over to me.
Dinner was delicious. The last thing I wanted to do was admit that Spencer was a good cook. When he wasn't trying to shove protein shakes down my throat, he actually did well.
We sat around the table and ate in relative silence, all hungry from our strenuous activities.
“I don't think I can eat another bite,” I whined, sitting back and placing a hand on my stomach.
“Not even ice cream?” Spencer asked pointedly.
“I wouldn't go that far. Give me five minutes, I’ll be ready for ice cream,” I told him.
Chase and Bear laughed while Spencer shook his head.
“We’re all exhausted. Why don't we pile on the sofa with some blankets and watch TV, and we can eat the ice cream in half an hour?” Chase suggested.
“Yes!” I nodded happily. The idea of some sofa cuddles was very appealing.
Chase stood up, grabbing our empty plates. “I'll get rid of these. You guys go get some extra blankets and pillows, and I'll meet you in the living room.
It didn’t go unnoticed that they were ensuring me and Bear weren’t separated. They were respecting our new bond. They weren’t acting jealous or possessive, just caring and understanding.
Was that what it meant to have a pack? To have people who always backed you up and helped you? If so, then I really could get used to having a pack.
Ten minutes later, I was on the sofa, sitting between Bear and Spencer, covered in blankets. Bear threw his arm around me, and I nuzzled into his side.
Chase took the armchair next to us, throwing his feet up and grabbing a deep blue knit throw that I recognized as one of Bear’s projects.
Spencer’s hand reached out, gently resting on my ankle in a firm but reassuring grip. I was sad that Chase wasn’t able to touch me, but there were only so many comfortable positions on the sofa, and piling all four of us on there would probably be overkill.
Still, just being in the same room as all three of them while lounging together, watching a TV show, felt right.
When had I ever allowed myself to unwind so much?
Usually, I was so focused on studying that I didn’t allow myself time to rest. It was a shame, because as I basked in the afterglow of my heat, surrounded by my alphas, I had never felt so relaxed.